The basketball coaching search in Winder may not have generated as much publicity as the one up the road in Athens, but it was an important one just the same.

Winder-Barrow High School officials selected South Forsyth’s David Sokol as the new varsity boys basketball coach last week to replace Eli Connell. Sokol was officially approved by the Barrow County Board of Education following a three-hour work session March 31. He takes over a program which went 9-1 in subregion play during the regular season in 2008-09.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work at Winder Barrow High School,” Sokol said. “My family and I are looking forward to getting acquainted with the school and community. One of the reasons I decided to take the position was the quality leaders at the high school. They have a excellent vision for athletics, the school and the community.”

“We are very excited about the experience Coach Sokol will bring to our boys basketball program,” WBHS principal Al Darby said. “His ability to relate to all kids is tremendous and we are fortunate to find someone of his caliber.”

While the Bulldoggs won the regular season subregion title this past season, Sokol will have some rebuilding to do as several players will be lost to graduation including Jodd Maxey and Shun Thurmond. In all, six seniors from the 2008-09 squad will graduate later this spring.

The search for a new coach took only a few weeks as Darby and WBHS athletic director Justin Grant, both former basketball coaches themselves, moved quickly on the vacancy.
Character was a word Darby used in his description of the new WBHS coach.

“The most exciting piece about Coach Sokol is the character he possesses,” Darby said. “I am confident that our student athletes will possess the same quality of character each day. Coach Sokol understands the type of work ethic that is needed for our program to reach a new level.”

“We plan on laying a foundation of high expectations for the basketball program this summer,” the new coach said. “It will be demanding but rewarding at the same time. I have heard nothing but great things about the student-athletes.”

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